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Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards
Born: 1962
Place of Birth: Bridgend
School: Llanelli Boys Grammar School
 

Famous For: Anchorman of flagship BBC news programme The Ten O'Clock News.

Trivia: As a child Huw wanted to be a virtuoso concert pianist.

Biography: Presenter of the BBC Ten O'Clock News, Huw Edwards began his career as a reporter for local radio station Swansea Sound. In 1986 he became a political reporter for BBC Wales rising to the position of chief parliamentary reporter for BBC News.

Though born in Bridgend, Huw's family moved to Llanegnnech, near Llanelli, when he was four years old. Huw is the son of Hywel Teifi Edwards, Professor in Welsh Literature at Swansea University. His mother was a teacher at Llanelli Grammar, and it was here that Huw was schooled from the age of eleven. Huw has said that he throughly enjoyed school life and described himself as being "very swotty".

After completing his A-levels he went to the University of Wales Cardiff, graduating with a first-class honours degree in French. At this point Huw had no firm career plans and he almost stumbled into journalism after a friend recommended he try his hand at presenting on a local radio station.

It was while working at radio station Swansea Sound that Huw saw an advert for the BBC News Trainee scheme, and it was this traineeship which gave him his first step onto the 'BBC ladder' in 1984.

Within two years Huw became BBC Wales's parliamentary correspondent, and two years later he was appointed TV News political correspondent. Due to work commitments Huw moved to London, with his working life revolving around the goings on in Westminster. Huw says he still misses the buzz of Westminster - he had built up a long list of contacts and he was on first name terms with Tony Blair's first cabinet.

May 1999 Huw began his journey to 'household fame', on becoming presenter of BBC One's Six O'Clock News, and in 2003 his presenting career took him later into the evenings as anchor of the Ten O'Clock News. In 2006 his roster of on-screen news duties also expanded to include an early-evening political news and debate programme on BBC News 24.

Huw is an ardent supporter of Wales and the Welsh language, and although he lives in London Huw and his family attend a Welsh chapel - and he speaks Welsh to his four young children at home.

His passion for the language was reflected in the BBC Wales television series 'The Story of Welsh', which Huw presented (and won a Bafta Cymru award for).

In recent years Huw has gone on to present or narrate a number of BBC Wales TV series, including Bread of Heaven, Land of Dreams, and Wales: The Power and the People, about the history of Welsh politics. You can also catch Huw from time to time holding court on the political debate programme 'People's Voice'.

Huw took your questions for a livechat all about his job and careers in general - click here to read it.

Comment on this story

Gareth Owens
I'm a Llanelli Grammar School boy and a contemporary of Huw, although he's 4 years older than me. Well done Huw, Birdie (the late R.I. Denis Jones, JP) would have been so proud of you!
Fri Jun 12 18:08:06 2009

Roy Lewis
I was in the same class as Huw in the first year in the Boys Gram, but after I left in 1977 I didn't see Huw until the 2000 Eisteddfod in Llanelli. He'd just finished a broadcast as I was walking past, didn't recognise me at first, but went out of his way to catch up with me for a quck chat. I also had the pleasure of meeting his father on many occasions when we were both on the same primary school governing body. Both are great men and ambassadors for Llanelli and Wales.
Fri Mar 6 12:09:32 2009

David Huw Ferry
Huw was actually born in Llanelli and his mother taught at Ysgol y Strade - Welsh-medium school.
Fri Jan 16 10:32:56 2009

Derek Wells Cardiff
Well done Huw - you did us proud, was in boys gram with you. Derek, originally from Pwll.
Sat Sep 6 14:36:47 2008

Mark Thomas
LBGS, those were the days, one of the finest schools around. I am proud to have been educated there and not suprised that many of it's pupils went on to achieve. I am aged 48 so Huw, although there during my time, was obviously a few years behind me.
Mon Jul 23 10:28:38 2007

Helen Burnett, Bradford West Yorks
Huw is my favourite newsreader. I am always pleased to see him on the screen.
Fri Jul 6 12:08:42 2007

David Williams from Ammanford
it is not so surprising that Huw has made such a success of his life; after all he was educated at Llanelli Grammar School and sired by Professor Hywel Teifi Edwards, while his mother taught at Llanelli Girls' Grammar School. Well done, Huw. Llongyfarchiadau.
Sun Mar 26 21:07:12 2006

Alfred Bowen Badger, Llanelli deceased
Alfed is my father and I was suprised to read that Huw was also at Llanelli Grammar. He used to keep up the Lanelli Old Boys association and was very proud to be Welsh and would have loved to hear you read the news. Alas, you were after his time.
Thu Jan 19 11:07:04 2006

Kevin McQuade, Manchester.
Huw Edwards is a fantastic newreader, the best ever produced by the BBC. Could we see more of him in other programmes. Huw's Welsh accent is great and a pleasure to listen to. Thanks for all the pleasure you give to your many news listenening fans Huw. With best wishes, K. McQuade
Mon Oct 3 15:48:37 2005

Cristen Cerry
Huw is soo hot.
Thu Sep 29 22:38:35 2005

Christopher Edwards, Cardiff
'The Story of Welsh' and 'Bread of Heaven' were both very interesting and informative programmes by Huw Edwards - let us hope much of this is yet to come! Most recently we saw him presenting the funeral of the Pope with much dignity. I admire him for keeping Welsh alive in London. Diolch Huw.
Tue Apr 19 11:32:49 2005

Alan & Margaret Mitchell from Rhyl
What a wonderful success you made of presenting "The People`s Voice" at Howell`s School, Denbigh, this morning (17/04/2005). You were great in handling the public and the panel. Please, please, please, when are you going to chair "Any Questions"?
Sun Apr 17 15:09:27 2005

Robert Gwyn Swansea
When a retired teacher had the temerity to question the spending of tens of millions on the Welsh language, Edwards replied with venom. He should be reminded that he is only a talking head and that the majority of Welshmen are English speakers.
Wed Mar 23 14:19:29 2005

Rachel, Orpington
I love Huw - is he married?
Mon Feb 7 21:31:42 2005

Hywel Evans from Llanelli
It's a joy to hear Huw on the News, a local voice and one that can pronounce all the Welsh names without any problem - something the other news readers lack!
I was taught by his mother, I now the family very well.Keep up the good work Huw and keep the Welsh flag flying worldwide.

Wed Jan 12 23:18:20 2005

Kathy
Huw is the cutest thing to come out of Wales ever! *swoon*
Wed Sep 8 12:52:31 2004

Wilf from Cwmafan
Excellent. Keep flying the flag & don't lose your accent.
Mon Sep 6 11:10:31 2004

Sian & Lynne, Neath, Wales.
Huw's jazzy ties are a joy to us both! However, on a more serious note, it's refreshing to hear a Welsh voice on national television when us Celtic nations have been inundated with English-orientated commentary on every programme imaginable recently. "Un yn y llygaid" as the "Saes" say.
Wed Jun 30 22:18:57 2004

zahid saeed
excellent presenter
Wed May 5 20:00:54 2004

Mel from Llanelli
It's a shame that lots of Welsh people like Huw Edwards, Guto Hari, Sian Williams and others have to leave Wales before they really get recognised. What does that say about us as a nation and country?
Wed Apr 7 21:53:06 2004

Dafydd Melfyn, Swindon, Wilts.
Braf clywed acen cymraeg ar ein teledu tra gwrando ar y newyddion. Mwy ac rhagor os gwelwch yn dda!
Tue Mar 9 02:03:19 2004

Colin Phillips
Hi Huw, Enjoy your nightly news programme,keep it up for WALES!!!! Best wishes, Colin Phillips - Cross hands
Thu Feb 26 18:32:48 2004



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